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Burrough Hill and Leicestershire Round

There are currently 2 comments and 5 photos online for this walk.

Burrough Hill and Leicestershire Round

Author: clairesharpuk, Published: 15 Jul 2013

Walk rating : Rating:

Leicestershire, Melton Mowbray

Walk Type: Hills, valleys and dales

Length: 7 miles, Difficulty:

Today's weather13 °C, Partly cloudy, Wind: 19 mph SSW

Next few days: Hover over icon for more info.

A 6.5 mile circular walk from the ancient site of the Burrough Hill Iron Age hill fort near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. This part of Leicestershire is known as High Leicestershire. It has particularly picturesque rolling hills and there are many points where the views are really beautiful so make sure you walk on a clear day. The walk gives chance to explore the fort before joining the Leicestershire Round long-distance path heading through pastures and fields down to the village of Somerby. The route then crosses over to the village of Burrough on the Hill before heading north through more arable fields to rejoin the Leicestershire Round for the journey back to the fort.

There are several climbs and descents throughout and the field paths can be very muddy after periods of wet weather and in winter. You will be sharing the paths with sheep for lots of the route and there are also a couple of places (including the fort) where cattle are grazing, so take care with dogs. There are lots of gates on route plus a few narrow footbridges, a couple of flights of steps and three stiles (all of which have adjacent dog gates or open fencing surrounds so they shouldn’t pose a problem for most dogs). There are public toilets at the car park at the start of the walk, along with several picnic benches. Allow 3 hours.

The walk starts from the Burrough Hill Country Park pay and display car park (£2.50 per car per day in July 2013). The car park can be found midway between the villages of Burrough on the Hill and Somerby and is marked with a brown tourism sign. Approximate post code LE14 2QZ.

Walk Sections

Take the stone track heading away from the road passing the toilets on the left. Head through the open gateway and continue past stables to the left. Ignore the first two footpaths through gates to the right and continue until you reach a pair of gates (ahead and right) with the Iron Age hill fort directly ahead.

This area of the East Midlands is an Iron Age hill fort dominated zone. This fort, Burrough Hill, sits 200 metres above sea level commanding views for miles around, making it a perfect site to defend against enemy attack. The fort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and the University of Leicester has been carrying out archaeological excavations since 2010.

Take the gate to the right and then bear left to take the path heading directly through the gap in the earth ramparts (with a concrete trig point up to the right) to enter the centre of the hill fort.

Once inside, swing right to follow the edge of the fort with the earth ramparts (and trig point) now on your right. Exit the hill fort via the next gap in the banks on the right. Keep ahead on the grass path until you reach a yellow topped marker post ahead. Turn left and follow the line of yellow topped posts leading you gradually downhill – with great views of rolling countryside ahead.

Towards the bottom of the slope, by a yellow post, fork right onto a permissive path heading between gorse bushes. As you emerge from the bushes keep ahead through the narrow double gateway and follow the wide grass ridge path – with slopes up to your right and down to your left. Keep ahead on this fairly level path, ignoring any turns left and right, and soon it will lead you through a metal kissing gate into a belt of woodland.

On the right you’ll pass a sign for Dalby Hills Path. Follow the path through the woodland and leave it via the gate at the far end. Keep straight ahead on the tree-lined grass track, with dense woodland to the right. As the trees end, you’ll be afforded more beautiful views across the rolling Leicestershire hills. The path goes ahead into another area of open woodland and you’ll come to a yellow post marking a T-junction.

Turn right, pass through the metal kissing gate and follow the right edge of the sheep pasture with woodland on the right. Continue through the dip and climb the opposite side to reach the kissing gate which leads you out of the field and up a flight of steps. Go through the next gate and take the path at 1 o’clock passing through the centre of a crop field.

Pass through the gap in the hedge via a sleeper bridge and follow the path in the same direction across the next large field. Some distance in, the path joins the wide field edge path with a hedge to the right – at the hedge corner, fork left back through the centre of the crops to reach the kissing gate at the far side. The path passes through a wild meadow area via a pair of gates, some steps and a sleeper footbridge over a stream to reach the next crop field.

Keep ahead along the left hand field boundary. The gate at the top leads you across the top of a narrow horse paddock and out to the next field. Turn left then right around the left hand edge of the field. Keep ahead on the path as it passes through two narrow horse paddocks and an area of scrub to join a narrow footpath between houses. You will emerge to the High Street in Somerby.

Turn right along the road passing the primary school and then the village pub on the left. Where the road bends hard right (by Number 96), fork left down Newbold Lane – a minor lane heading for the riding school. Keep ahead on the main tarmac lane lined with trees.

Continue past the stables on the left and for some distance beyond. Where the lane swings left, fork right through a wide metal gate onto the footpath which follows the left hand edge of a crop field. At the far side, pass through the small metal gate and keep ahead close to the fence on your left, with a sheep pasture sloping down to the right. Take your time here to really appreciate the views which spread for more than 180 degrees.

Towards the end of the field the path slopes down to the right, passes through gorse bushes and then continues downhill to reach the far boundary. Cross the stile and then the gate to reach a large open field. Cross this at 12 o’clock and leave via a double stile. Keep close to the right hand pasture boundary and, two thirds of the way along, leave via the kissing gate on the right. Follow the path veering steadily away from the fence on the left and through a small belt of trees to reach a T-junction with Newbold Lane.

Turn right along the main road, passing between the speed restriction signs. At the road junction, turn right signed to Somerby, passing Chestnut Cottage on the left. You will pass the Old Rectory on the left. Immediately afterwards, turn left through the ornate iron arch onto a footpath into the church yard.

As you reach the church door ahead, turn diagonally left passing the church clock tower on your right. Ignore the first stile on the left in the corner – continue round the clock tower and take the gate in the next corner.

Follow the path through kissing gates as it crosses a narrow belt of trees and then a private lawn area. Follow the right hand edge of the next two fields and swing right through a gate to pass through some trees and out to a crop field. Follow the path at 11 o’clock to reach the far left-hand corner. If you glance diagonally right you’ll see that the obvious outline of the Iron Age fort is once again visible.

Cross the footbridge over a stream and keep ahead to cross the next two crop fields diagonally left. You will come to the hedgeline ahead with a grass track in front of it and a yellow marker within the hedge marking this as a T-junction with the track.

Turn right along the grass track (with the hedge on the left) and follow it as it swings right at the end of the field. Keep left through two gates to re-enter the grounds of the hill fort. Follow the track passing to the right of the fort with the earth ramparts sloping up to the left.

The path swings left around the edge of the earthworks and then right out through a gate to reach the access lane that you used for your outward journey. Keep straight ahead down the track and eventually you will reach the car park where the walk began.

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2 responses to "Burrough Hill and Leicestershire Round"

A very nice walk, almost entirely along footpaths and 3 boots is about right. We parked on the high street in Somerby so to finish at a pub. Also stopped for a drink at the nice pub in Bourton-on-the-Hill.

By anthonybrewe on 2014-10-05 21:28:28

Very enjoyable and varied walk with lovely views of surrounding countryside. Quite muddy in parts after wet weather.

By peterbeever on 2015-11-01 21:54:18

The information in this guide has been provided in good faith and is intended only as a guide, not a statement of fact. You are advised to check the accuracy of the information provided and should not use this guide for navigational directions nor should you rely on the accuracy of the weather forecast. You are advised to take appropriate clothing, footwear, equipment and navigational materials with you according to the current and possible weather and nature of the terrain. Always follow the country code and follow any additional warnings or instructions that may be available. Some walks may be very strenuous and you are advised to seek medical advice if you have any doubts as to your capability to complete the walk.

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